Young guns set new standard in the pack
Young guns set new standard in the pack
THE Wallabies' domination of England at Test level looks set to continue well into the future.
IN Argentina yesterday, the Australian Under-20 side powered into the final of the IRB World Junior Championships with a 28-16 defeat of England.
It is the first time Australia has made the final of the tournament since the IRB switched to an Under-20 format three years ago and what made yesterday's semi-final victory in Rosario all the sweeter, given the Wallabies scrummaging debacle in the Perth Test last weekend, was that it was achieved on the back of a dominant scrum.
That probably should not be too surprising given that the front row of Paul Alo-Emile, Siliva Siliva and Salesi Manu is bigger than the Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa, Saleki Ma'afu trio Australia will field in tonight's Test against the England senior side at ANZ Stadium.
The victory sets up a trans-Tasman final on Tuesday morning (AEST) against a New Zealand side that scored a comprehensive 36-7 victory over the South African side Australia struggled to defeat 42-35 during the pool stage of the tournament.
But Australian captain Jake Schatz, a Super 14 regular for the Queensland Reds earlier this year, insisted it made no difference to his team which country it will face in the title decider.
"We had no preference who we play in the final," Schatz said. "We'll take plenty of confidence into that game and we want to win it, we want to take out the title.
"Again, I'm very proud of the front row and the tight five in the scrum. They got us on the front foot in that department. But the lineout we still need to work on ahead of the final."
While the David Nucifora-coached side, the youngest squad in the tournament, continues to blow hot and cold in the set pieces, it has been consistently dangerous with ball in hand. Against South Africa, it was Dominic Shipperley who shone with a three-try contribution, but against England it was fellow Queensland winger Aidan Toua and Queensland Wallabies tourist Luke Morahan who put the Australians on the path to victory with first-half tries.
Successful conversions and two penalty goals from Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua sent the side into the halftime break leading 20-8 but England came out hard in the second half, rattling the Australians with some heavy defence.
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